Standard laptop
Making you own laptop cover or sleeve is a cost effective way to transport your laptop. By making a sleeve, you can just slide your laptop into any bag large enough to accommodate it rather than spending $30 to $50 on a bag designed for laptops. Sewing your own cover is fairly basic sewing that most anyone can do. Making your own sleeve also allows you to put some creativity and originality into something you're likely to use daily.
Instructions
Sewing a Simple Laptop Cover
1. Measure your laptop. Add 1/2 of the thickness measurement to the length and width measurement. For example, if your laptop is 15 1/2 inches wide by 10 1/2 inches deep, and it is 1 1/2 inches thick, then your measurements would be 16 1/4 inches wide by 11 1/4 inches deep.
2. Measure your fabric. Measure out four rectangles that are the size of your measurements. Two for the lining and two for the outer shell of your cover.
3. Cut your four pieces of fabric with your scissors. Lay two pieces of the fabric aside for now.
4. Pin two pieces of your fabric together into a pocket. Match up the two rectangles wrong side out and insert straight pins around the sides and bottom of your cover to hold it in place while you sew.
5. Sew the two pieces of fabric together using your sewing kit or with a sewing machine. Leave a two inch gap in one of the bottom corners so you can turn everything right side out when you are done sewing.
6. Pin together and sew your other two pieces of fabric. Don't leave a gap in this one. Leave it wrong side out. Now you have two pockets: the inner lining and the outer shell of your laptop cover.
7. Fit the first pocket that you sewed and turned right side out inside the wrong side out pocket you just completed. You now have two pockets, one inside the other. The tops are unfinished. You will sew the two together in the following steps.
8. Pin together the tops of two pockets.
9. Sew the two pockets together by sewing around the top edges of the pocket. Be careful not to sew the pocket shut.
10. Pull everything right side out through the gap you left when you sewed your first pocket together.
11. Tuck the lining inside the pocket with the gap. You now have your cover except for a few finishing touches.
12. Use a needle and thread to sew the two inch gap closed. That's it. You're done and you can begin using your laptop cover.
Adding an Optional Flap
13. Use some of your leftover fabric to construct a simple flap to secure your laptop inside the cover. Measure and cut two rectangles of fabric 3 1/2 inches wide by 6 inches long.
14. Sew the two pieces of fabric together right side out.
15. Sew the flap on the back edge of the sleeve. You can either sew it on as is, or open the back seam, insert the edge of the flap and resew it.
16. Sew a piece of velcro onto the flap.
17.Insert your laptop into the cover. Fold the flap over the top. Sew on the other piece of velcro where the flap meets the outer shell of the cover. Your laptop is ready to travel.
Tags: your laptop, pieces fabric, right side, your cover, fabric together, inches wide
